2015 NHL Draft: Nashville Predators Select Thomas Novak 85th Overall in 3rd Round
Another center.
The Nashville Predators took another center in Thomas Novak with the 85th overall selection in the 3rd round. Novak comes from Waterloo of the USHL.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nashville selects center Thomas Novak from Waterloo of the USHL with the 85th pick. 14 goals, 48 points in 46 games last season.</p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href="https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/614819858027552773">June 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Novak has committed to the University of Minnesota for next year.</p>— Adam Vingan (@AdamVingan) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamVingan/status/614820142929846272">June 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Learn about the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash">#Preds</a> newest player, center Thomas Novak here: <a href="http://t.co/UpGr5tLe3F">http://t.co/UpGr5tLe3F</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLDraft?src=hash">#NHLDraft</a> <a href="http://t.co/nvIKimHXi9">pic.twitter.com/nvIKimHXi9</a></p>— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PredsNHL/status/614820699446865920">June 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"I've never been to Tennessee but I heard it's pretty fun down there." - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Preds?src=hash">#Preds</a> 3rd Round pick Thomas Novak</p>— Brooks Bratten (@brooksbratten) <a href="https://twitter.com/brooksbratten/status/614822555841474560">June 27, 2015</a></blockquote>
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A highly skilled playmaking center with first-rate "hockey sense" and puckhandling ability. Creates energy through being an offensively dominant presence. Plays an up-tempo game that can catch a lot of defencemen off guard; excellent skater. Will need to gain size and strength; otherwise, with his skillset, there is nothing barring him from becoming a prolific scorer at the next level. (Curtis Joe, EP 2014) - See more at: http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=248374#sthash.vKreA9bK.dpuf
"I think he's sometimes two and three steps ahead of the play," [Waterloo coach P.K.] O'Handley said. "I think that as well as his vision [are his strongest assets]. I think a part of vision is being able to picture what's to come and I think he's got a real unique ability to see what maybe two steps ahead is going to look like. I think he relishes the challenge of that. It's a strength of his and, at times, it can be an Achilles heel.